The Study
Effect of selenium on thyroid autoimmunity and regulatory T cells in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: A prospective randomized‐controlled trial
This study gave some people selenium pills and others nothing, then checked if their thyroid antibodies went down. It found that those who took selenium had lower antibody levels, but because they knew they were getting the pills, it might have been because they felt better mentally, not because selenium actually changed their body. So we can say selenium might help, but we can't be sure it's the real reason.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study tested if taking a selenium pill every day for 6 months helps calm the immune system’s attack on the thyroid in people with Hashimoto’s.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 556 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — lower antibodies and TSH suggest less immune damage and better thyroid function, which could mean fewer symptoms or slower disease progression.
- 2People who took selenium had TPO antibodies drop by 28.4, TG antibodies drop by 48.8, TSH levels went down by 0.16, and their selenium levels more than doubled.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Clinical and Translational Science
Year
2021
Authors
Yifang Hu, W. Feng, Huan-huan Chen, He Shi, Lin Jiang, Xuqin Zheng, Xiaoyun Liu, Wensong Zhang, Yaoqi Ge, Yun Liu, D. Cui
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking selenium supplements is associated with lower levels of antibodies that attack the thyroid in people diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Taking 200 micrograms of selenium yeast daily for six months raises selenium levels in the blood and increases the activity of two selenium-dependent proteins involved in antioxidant defense in adults with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
In people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, taking selenium supplements for six months is associated with an increase in a specific type of immune cell called activated regulatory T cells, as well as higher levels of a protein called Helios on those cells.
In people with early-stage Hashimoto’s thyroiditis who are not taking thyroid medication, taking 200 micrograms of selenium yeast daily for six months is linked to a small decrease in TSH hormone levels, whereas those not taking selenium experience a small increase.
In adults with Hashimoto's thyroiditis who are not taking levothyroxine, taking 200 micrograms of selenium yeast daily for six months is linked to a measurable decrease in two types of thyroid antibodies, while those not taking selenium show no change.
In people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, taking selenium supplements raises levels of selenium and certain antioxidant proteins in the blood, and these changes are linked to lower levels of thyroid autoantibodies and TSH.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.